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The Cardinals came off the practice field for the final time Friday. “I’m too cold to have any emotion,” coach Ken Whisenhunt quipped.

“There is disappointment,” Whisenhunt added. “It’s the last one, and I enjoy our guys. One of the best things about being a coach is being able to spend time with the guys on the field. Knowing that is coming to an end is always hard. We didn’t have the greatest of years.”

— It looks like linebacker Joey Porter will not be playing again for the Cards this season. He is doubtful for Sunday with his triceps injury and didn’t practice again (and his long-term status with the team going into next year is probably in doubt too, but that’s discussion for another day). The other three injured players: running back LaRod Stephens-Howling (hamstring), tight end Ben Patrick (hamstring) and linebacker Clark Haggans (groin) are all questionable after being limited again.

— The Arizona chapter of the Pro Football Writers Association handed out its awards Friday. There are two: The Lloyd Herberg MVP award, and the Steve Schoenfeld “Good Guy” award, for the player deemed best for the media. Safety Kerry Rhodes received the MVP award, while running back Tim Hightower got the Good Guy honor. The Cards have a bunch of guys who are good with the media, but not only is Hightower thoughtful in his answers and manages to avoid too many cliches, but he also has been there all year no matter what — even through the losing, and even when he had to talk about his fumbling problems (which obviously was more than once).

The awards are sponsored by Oregano’s Pizza Bistros. Herberg was the original Arizona Republic beat writer covering the Cards before he lost his life to cancer. Schoenfeld was the long-time Republic Cards and NFL writer who was working for cbssports.com when he was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Tempe. (From left to right, XTRA’s Mike Jurecki, Hightower, Rhodes and the Republic’s Kent Somers).

Hey Darren–Happy New Year!–Still have to come out and try to beat the Niners on Sunday and try to end the season on a high note. Boy did this season fly by–then the evaluation process is under way. We will see how Skelton plays on the road this weekend–good experience for him. Nice to see Rhodes and Hightower with the awards–they are good guys. It will be interesting to see what the Cards’s do with Breaston. They are deep at receiver & with Fitz do up –it
will be interesting if they sign him!! With Robert’s improving in receiving and punt returns—They may not??? What do you think???

Yes, Paris was forgotten, KyCarsdfan. Rhodes is a fine player and worthy of recognition and I would never minimize his many contributions. Paris Lenon will keep doing the good things he has always done no matter where he plays and no matter the keeper of the stats or how they are recorded. Hopefully, the Cards are savvy enough to retain him. His leadership alone is worth his contract. By the way, he is relatively underpaid, in my opinion.

Also, Hightower is another classy guy from the University of Richmond like Paris Lenon. He is an impressive young man and I hope he will be given future opportunities to showcase and lead.